Assessment of vascular injuries in Supracondylar fractures of the humerus

Fifty patients presenting with supracondylar fractures of the humerus were studied. All patients were examined according to a vascular work-up designed to cover history taking, physical examination and Doppler study. Twelve patients [24%] had an associated arterial injury. No delay in the diagnosis of the arterial injury had been reported. Type III of extension type supracondylar fracture in this series was the commonest type associated with vascular insult [11 cases out of 12 with arterial injury]. All patients with a difference in the systolic pressure more than 30 mmHg had suffered from an associated arterial injury